The Canadian province of Manitoba is pulling U.S. liquor from store shelves in response to President Trump’s tariffs against the United States’ neighbor to the north.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew made the announcement during a bill signing where he appeared to mock Trump’s dependence on two adjectives.
“This order is a wonderful order, it’s a beautiful order, this order is pulling American booze off the Liquor Mart shelves,” Kinew said to heavy applause Wednesday.
Trump announced Monday that he effectively wished to start a trade war with Canada and Mexico by placing 25% tariffs against the nations bordering the U.S. starting Tuesday. The U.S. stock market responded poorly to that decision, which has been heavily criticized at home and abroad. The White House loosened its tariffs for automakers Wednesday, which fueled a small rebound the car industry stocks.
Trump said the tariffs were in part to pressure Canada into strengthening its borders to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. However, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it seized little more than 40 lbs. of the deadly drug entering the country through Canada in 2024. That’s 0.2% of the fentanyl seized coming into the U.S. last year.
Kinew has proved willing to stand up to Trump since the President took office in January and began suggesting the U.S. might annex Canada against its will.
“We’re a nation of hockey players. We know how to stand up for ourselves,” Kinew said in a video posted to Instagram last month. “At the same time, we know how to go for a beer together once the game is over.”
Liquor Mart stores operate under the government-regulated Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation. The stores’ website now states “We are no longer selling American Liquor Products” and provides a link to alternative brands.
The CEO of Jack Daniel’s parent company told investors in a Wednesday post-earnings call that having his whiskey products removed from Canadian stores is “worse than a tariff” and called the move “disproportionate,” according to The Tennessean.